Support for Indie Authors discussion

Hey all,

I have begun work on a novel. This is the first I've done in quite a while and it's going quite well.

I am stumped on one thing... I have a lot of ideas I like for a title, but am not sure which I want to go with. I know, it may seem early in the process to worry about it, but I want to start working on cover designs, too. Knowing what the thing will be called will help me determine what cover design(s) I want to fool with (again, I have several ideas).

I will give a list of a few of my potential titles. Would you, could you, without even knowing what the story is about, let me know which one(s) appeal to you the most (and maybe which one(s) you would pass over? Thank you kindly in advance.

THE BEAN HOOKS
CLAUDE OF THE DIRT
GOLDEN HOOK CLUB
LADYBUG BOY
OUT IN THE FIELDS
SUCKERS AND ROGUES

Ha ha! Looking over the list, I would guess some people will know what the novel will be about.

I like Golden Hook Club and Suckers and Rogues!

lol I'm going to be the only one that picks Ladybug Boy. Love it.

lol Charles, it makes me think of a song my dad wrote called "Ladybug Man" about some old sci-fi movie. That's why I couldn't pick that one. :)

I go with Claude of the Dirt or Golden Hook Club. Could you just give a one-sentence summary of the book or the setting or something we can link
it to?

Yep a one-sentence summary might help. Since we don't have that, I'll go with my first impressions of the possible titles and hope it will help.

The Bean Hook: sounds like a book for children.

Golden Hook Club: Some kind of pirate story.

LadyBug Boy: Mixed feelings. Children book, or it could also be about an autism child.

Out in the Field: Hard to tell. It could be so many things. Without a picture of a blurb, I'd think Baseball Story.

If any of the above don't match then it leaves 'Claude of the Dirt' and 'Suckers and Rogues'

The first one, Claude of the Dirt sounds medieval and/or mysterious. It could probably also fit scifi. While the second one, Suckers and Rogues, I honestly have no idea of what it could be. Urban Fantasy with a hint of humor maybe?

So yes, if not a one-line summary, at least maybe give us the genre. ;)

I like Ladybug boy and Golden Hook Club, though they all have their merits.

G.G. wrote: "So yes, if not a one-line summary, at least maybe give us the genre. ;)"

I purposely didn't give any real info about the story as I just wanted to get some reactions first to find which title is catchiest without knowing what the book is about.

Thanks to all that have replied so far!

I will tell you this: It is a nostalgic piece, general fiction, coming of age story set in Iowa, during the summer of 1985. Claude is an innocent young boy who has taken his first job roguing corn.

And it is definitely NOT a children's book. Think "A Prayer for Owen Meany" meets "Lord of the Flies". Some kids might enjoy it, but it's written more for adults.

Ladybug Boy and Suckers & Rogues, but they would have to be two different types of books.

The reason I like Ladybug Boy is it is more unique and draws attention compared to the rest.

After going back and reading your last post (I skipped it in order to keep my mind open) I like Ladybug Boy or Claude of the Dirt.

I like the alliteration of Ladybug Boy and the unusual sound of Claude of the Dirt, who could be a forgotten knight of King Arthur's court.

It looks like four of the potential titles are running pretty close. I appreciate all the feedback and discussion so far. Anyone else want to offer some feedback or opinion before I make the official count?

It seems we're down to:

CLAUDE OF THE DIRT
GOLDEN HOOK CLUB
LADYBUG BOY
SUCKERS AND ROGUES

Which makes me really glad I asked. "Out In The Fields" has been the working title and the only mock cover I've done so far used that title. If it's not eye-catching, I'm glad to know it now.

Thanks to all!

What about Claude of Dirt instead of Claude of the Dirt? (homonym Clod of Dirt).

I'm looking at Suckers and Rogues, and wondering about some puns to do with harvesting/gardening. A sucker is a kind of plant. What about Suckers and Creepers? Or Suckers and Pests?

Other words that might work as double-meanings:

rabble
swarm
blight
corruption

P.D. wrote: "I'm looking at Suckers and Rogues, and wondering about some puns to do with harvesting/gardening. A sucker is a kind of plant. What about Suckers and Creepers? Or Suckers and Pests?

Other words th..."

All awesome ideas. I might just have to message you the next time I'm having trouble with a title name x D

Riley, feel free!

I like Suckers and Rogues

Suckers and Rogues

I don't know why but Ladybug Boy and Golden Hook Club jumped out at me more than the others. I think I'd be intrigued by either title.

Dwayne wrote: "Hey all, I have begun work on a novel. This is the first I've done in quite a while and it's going quite well. I am stumped on one thing... I have a lot of ideas I like for a title, but am not su..."

Ladybug Boy

P.D. wrote: "What about Claude of Dirt instead of Claude of the Dirt? (homonym Clod of Dirt)."

I actually have a lot of titles I'm considering, but since some of them were so similar, I only went with one version. Claude of Dirt is one possibility.

Pamela wrote: "Is it about insects? For the crowd in the U.S. might want to find some more titles."

Claude does want to be an entomologist when he grows up, but it's not really about bugs. There will be a bit about aphids in there, I'm sure.

P.D. wrote: "I'm looking at Suckers and Rogues, and wondering about some puns to do with harvesting/gardening..."

Exactly. The characters are all on a roguing crew together. Rogues and suckers are two terms for plants that they are expected to remove. It has a double meaning as Claude realizes some of the people on the crew see him (and several others) as rogues that need to be removed.

"The Bean Hooks" is the one that intrigues me the most.
"Suckers and Rouges" is a close second.

Then maybe save Ladybug Boy for another book?

Casting my vote for Suckers and Rouges.

My first thought was "Ladybug Boy." But I also like "Suckers and Rogues" and Claude of the Dirt." Not much help, huh. :/

Dwayne wrote: "P.D. wrote: "I'm looking at Suckers and Rogues, and wondering about some puns to do with harvesting/gardening..."

Exactly. The characters are all on a roguing crew together. Rogues and suckers are..."

Then, I go with Suckers and Rogues.

Charles wrote: "Then maybe save Ladybug Boy for another book?"

By my count at this time, the voting is close but it looks like Suckers & Rogues is winning, just barely.

Since the two titles are running so close, I may call the novel "Suckers & Rogues" but put out a short story or novella first with some of the same characters called "Ladybug Boy" as an attempt to generate some interest before the novel comes out.

Gonna wait until the voting dies down a little more before I decide for sure.

Thank you so much to everyone that has given input!

I'm liking Suckers & Rouges. Please don't sell YA market short. A number of books selling today as YA may have been classed as either GenFic or LitFic.

D. wrote: "Please don't sell YA market short."

I don't sell it short. I just don't write young adult. Maybe some day I'll give it a stab, but not yet. The novel might actually work as young adult, except for two things:

1. It is set in the mid eighties, which I think would be more interesting to people my age than people that were not yet born at the time.

2. There are some scenes that are probably a wee bit too sexual, violent or too heavy with profanity to fit young adult.